These women's toes were broken and tucked beneath the soles by their mothers to make them more attractive to a partner. Today, survivors are ashamed of their crippled feet, hiding them from their families.

When Ms Farrell gives presentations on foot binding, people are shocked. Yet every culture engages in some form of body modification, from Botox to rib removals, toe tucks and lip piercings.

An image showing Su Xi Rong's unwrapped feet.

Photo: Jo Farrell

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Ms Farrell was also critical of the latest trend to shorten toes so women could wear high shoes.

''Altering feet to accommodate the shoe is the wrong way round,'' Hong Kong-based Ms Farrell said.

Far from living privileged lives, the women Ms Farrell has met have come from peasant families. The first she met was Zhang Yun Ying.

''I held her feet in my hands, they were so soft, in some ways so beautiful, because I knew what she had been through … and my heart went out to her.''